Eighth Marrakech International Film Festival expected to be great success

19/11/2008

The 8th Marrakech International Film Festival opened Friday. Movie stars from around the world arrived in the city to attend the event. More than 100 movies will be screened and 15 will compete to win top honours.

By Hassan Benmehdi for Magharebia in Casablanca – 19/11/08

[Hassan Benmehdi] Moroccan actor Rachid El Ouali celebrates at the Marrakech International Film Festival with a group of other Moroccan personalities.

Cold weather did not deter visitors from enjoying the 8th Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM), which opened Friday (November 14th) amid high expectations.

On opening night, crowds lined up in front of the Palais des Congrès to welcome Arab and international movie stars Charlotte Rampling, Roman Polanski, Asian actress Michelle Yeoh, Yousra from Egypt, Izzat Allaïli, French actress Mélanie Laurent, American actress Sigourney Weaver, Morocco's Moustapha Dasoukine and many others.

"It is an honour to attend the festival," said Yousra.

More than 100 films will be screened this year. The FIFM will pay tribute to late Egyptian director Youssef Chahine, with eleven of his works screened throughout the festival.

This year, the Moroccan film industry celebrates 50 years in production. "L'enfant maudit" (The Hated Son) was Morocco's first movie, produced by Mohamed Osfour in 1958.

British cinema will also get its share of tributes. Organisers prepared 40 films that are considered to be landmarks in the British film industry, like "If", directed by Lindsay Anderson in 1968 and "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" (2006) from director Ken Loach.

Famous names from English cinema, such as Hugh Hudson, Julian Wadham, Tom Hollander, Alexander Sidding, Christopher Cox, John Hurt, Oliver Parker and others are already in Marrakech to attend the festival.

"The 8th FIFM," said Artistic Director Bruno Barde, "will showcase film-makers who have conquered impatience, opting instead for freedom as their instrument of truth."

Fifteen films are competing for first prize, the golden star; entries are from the Philippines, Iceland, Russia, China, Finland, India, the United States, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Argentina and Ireland. Moroccan film "Kandisha", a film from director Jérome Cohen Olivar, is also in the competition.

"The race for the first prize in this festival will be a close one," said chairman of the jury, American filmmaker Barry Levinson. "The films in the competition demonstrate remarkable technical and artistic professionalism."